North American Butterflies and Moths List

The definitive website on wildbirds & nature

Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Kansas

Many-banded Daggerwing (Marpesia chiron)

Many-banded Daggerwing (Marpesia chiron [Fabricius])

Wing span: 2 1/8 - 2 5/8 inches (5.4 - 6.7 cm).

Identification: Hindwing has a long dagger-like tail. Upperside is
dark brown with 3 pale brown stripes and 3 white spots near the tip
of the forewing. Underside is light brown; basal half is gray with
thin orange stripes.

Life history: Eggs are laid singly on buds of the host plants.
Caterpillars eat leaves and make a resting platform with silk and
dung pellets.

Flight: May-December in Mexico, probably all year in Central
America, February and July-October in South Texas.

Caterpillar hosts: Leaves of shrubs and trees in the fig family
(Moraceae).

Adult food: Nectar from Cordia, Lantana, and Croton.

Habitat: Tropical forests, openings, and river valleys.

Range: Argentina north through Central America to Mexico and the
West Indies. A frequent stray to South Texas; rarely strays to
Kansas and southern Florida.

Comments: In the tropics this species experiences population
explosions and mass migrations.

Conservation: Not required for a rare stray.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G5 - Demonstrably secure
globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range,
especially at the periphery.